was considered only as a Peasant in Disguise, and
not more respected than a Hewer of Wood, or Drawer of Water.

In these Writings of St. _Fiechry_, the legislative Wisdom of
_Olam-Fodla_; the philosophically-religious Capacity of _Cormac-O Quin_,
who, from the pure Light of Nature, in a great Measure defeated the absurd
_Polytheism_ of the _Druids_; the consummate Integrity and Impartiality of
_Federach_ the Just, and _Moran_ his Chief Justice; the Magnanimity of
_Con-Ked-Cathagh_; the Conquests of _Kineth Mac Alpin_; the long,
glorious, and peaceful Reign of _Conary_ the Great, _coaeval_ with the
Birth of our Blessed Lord and Saviour _Jesus Christ_, (undoubtedly the
happiest, brightest, and most blissful Period the World ever saw;) are all
displayed in a copious masterly Style, yet with strict chronological
Exactness.

This learned St. _Fiechry_ was Founder of the University in _Paris_, in
the Beginning of the 8th Century. The better to enable him to carry on
that noble Work, he obtained of _Charles_ the Great a Tax on all
Wheel-Carriages, within the Barriers of that City: Whence, a Hackney-Coach
is at this Day technically term'd _Fiacre_.

_Charles_ the Great, in order to repair the cruel and truly lamentable
literary Dilapidations of the ferocious North-men, invited Numbers of the
learned and pious _Irish_ to the Continent, where he established and
entertained them with Dignity, Tenderness, and Respect. In a curious
Manuscript of _Nicholaus Gurtlerus_, (now in the _French_ King's
_Parisian_ Library) Author of the _Origines Mundi_, where he alludes to
these Times, you find the following favourable, but true Account of
_Ireland_.--_Temporibus illis, barbaris Normannorum Cohortibus undequaque
irrumpentibus, Religio, Fides, Philosophia, Virtus, Hospitalitas,
Fortitudo, Castitas, necnon et Amoeniores omnium generum Artes, Hibernia
solummodo natali, veluti Solo, viguerunt_; little Wonder that _Ireland_
should have been esteemed the _Ierne_, or sacred Isle of the _Greeks_, the
_Insula Sanctorum_, or Island of Saints of the _Romans_.--Would to Heaven
our Countrymen had, upon all considerable Occasions, recollected those
deserved Encomiums, thereby to approve them worthy their applauded Origin,
and native Soil!

We now proceed to consider _Ireland_ in her happiest and brightest View,
after the Admission and Propagation of Christianity. It is certain there
were many Christians in _Ireland_, before the Arrival of _Palladius